Curry-comb



(No Model.)

A. G. DECKER.

CURRY COMB.

No. 430,628. Patented June 24, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER O. DECKER, OF KEOKUK, IOIVA.

CURRY-COMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,628, dated June24,1890.

Application filed July 17, 1889. Serial No. 317,759. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER C. DECK- ER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Curry-Combs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to curry-combs, and is designed particularly torender them more flexible and consequently less harsh to the skin thanthose of the ordinary construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved comb;Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional View, and Fig. 4 abottom plan view.

A indicates the main body or back of the comb, made of anyflexiblematerialsuch as leather, coarse woven fabric, or the like thoughI prefer to employ leather. Riveted or otherwise pivotally secured tothe back in lines parallel to its sides is a series of cup-shaped disks0. or, provided with teeth b, the object of so placing the disks beingto enable the back to assume more readily a curvature convex or concaveeither in the direction of its length or breadth, as shown in dottedlines in Figs. 2 and 3.

Secured to the back or body A is a loop or handle B, and within saidloop or handle is a block 0, of wood or other material, so shaped on itsupper surface as to readily fit in the palm of the hand, and thus, inconnection with the loop B, insuring afirm grip for the hand. A smallportion of the under surface of block 0 is made fiat, so as to permit ofrigid attachment to the main body orback' A, and from this fiat portionit is given an upward inclination toward each end, forming approximatelyone continuous curve to allow for the upward curvature of the bodyA.

By making the disks (4 a rotatable and the back of the comb flexible Iam enabled to use the comb on many parts of the animals body where arigid non-yielding brush could not be used to advantage, the teeth ofthe disks passing over windgalls or like protuberances without injuringthem, because of the disks being able to rotate.

IVhile I have shown and described the disks as being placed in parallellines, I do not confine myself to that arrangement. The

important points to be observed are that the disks shall be free torotate and that they be not close enough together to interfere with eachother when the body is curved, and if these points be duly provided forother details may be varied.

While, asjust stated, the best results are secured by making or applyingthe disks so that they may rotate, measurably good results may besecured with a comb in which the disks do not rotate. As a matter offact, the disks of my comb when first applied to the back arepractically non-rotatable, but soon Wear sufficiently to permit them toturn or rotate upon their rivets.

In using the term disk I do not wish to be understood as meaning tolimit or restrict myself to a circular plate, but mean to i11- cludeunder such general expression square, hexagonal, or other polygonalplates when applied in the manner shown and described, 4

in contradistinction to those plates or bars extending entirely acrossthe back, and thereby preventing the flexure of the back in alldirections.

The comb is found to give excellent results in practice, and is light,cheap, and durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A curry-combconsisting of a flexible back and a series of independent toothed platessecured thereto and separated each from the others by continuous openspaces extending from end to end and from side to side of the back,substantially as set forth, whereby the back is adapted to yield or bendin all directions.

2. In a curry-comb, the combination of a flexible back and toothed disksapplied thereto, a loop or handle, and a block within said handle andsecured to the body.

In a curry-comb, the combination of a flexible body provided with aseries of toothed disks, a loop or handle 13, a block (I, secured withinsaid handle to the body and having its ends inclined, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

- ALEXANDER O. DECKER.

IVitnesses: I

W. J. SonLorrEE, J. G. GARRETSON.

